Pen Rider – Horton Feedyard

Pen riding at the Horton Feedyard north of Fort Collins, in Wellington, Colorado, under the cattle manager or head cowboy. The work is a horse and a set of pens: riding through every day to identify animals showing outward signs of distress, segregating them and driving them to the nearest hospital pen, calling deads in for removal, and returning treated cattle and strays to their home pens. Riders help ship fat cattle by opening gates, driving to the weighing area, counting head, separating strays and checking withdrawals, and move cattle through the yard using humane low-stress techniques. Cleaning the horse facilities is part of the job. The posting asks for safe riding, a gentle horse and tack you furnish yourself, knowledge of cattle breeds and characteristics, and flexible hours when shipping demands it.